SHOREBIRDS BLAST LEGENDS 9-1 TO END LOSING STREAK

Largest Crowd of Season Flocks to Perdue Stadium

Salisbury, Md. – The Shorebirds exploded for eight runs between the sixth and eighth innings to sprint past the Lexington Legends, 9-1, in game two of the series from Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Saturday. The largest crowd of the season, 8,993, witnessed the drubbing. Kenny Moreland earned his seventh win with the Shorebirds and ninth overall (two with Frederick), which is the most in the Orioles farm system.

The Legends jumped out to an early lead in the first. Grant Hogue was hit by a pitch to open the game. Two batters later, Jimmy Paredes singled to advance Hogue to second. After a wild pitch moved Hogue to third, he scored on a ground out to first baseman Mike Flacco by Jake Goebbert.

The Shorebirds leveled the contest in the bottom of the first inning. T.J. Baxter was issued a lead off walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, Ty Kelly hit a sharp single to left field to score Baxter.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until the sixth inning. Gary Helmick reached on a hit-by-pitch. Then, Ty Kelly hit a sinking liner to left center that got behind the diving center fielder Hogue for a triple and an RBI. With Kelly at third, Kieron Pope hit a hard two hopper towards short to give the ‘Birds a 3-1 edge.

In the seventh, the Shorebirds exploded for four runs. Flacco drew a lead off walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then, on a grounder to short by Justin Dalles, Jiovanni Mier sailed the throw into the dugout to force in Flacco. Garabez Rosa followed with a single. With two aboard, Helmick hit a three-run homer to left field to vault the ‘Birds to a 7-1 lead. It was his first home run since April 14.

In the eighth, the Shorebirds tacked on two more runs. Pope singled to open the frame. Then, Carolus belted a two-run homer inside the foul pole in left field to lift the ‘Birds to a 9-1 lead. Carolus has three homers in his last four games.

Moreland earned the win in seven stellar innings. He allowed just two hits. The right-hander finished the seventh inning for a fourth time this season.

Left-hander Will Startup, who was promoted from Aberdeen, made his debut. He tossed two scoreless innings to close out the game.

The Shorebirds and Legends meet for game three of the series on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m.